DEVELOPING AN EXPERIMENTAL TECHNIQUE FOR EXTERIOR BEAM-COLUMN JOINTS USING PARTIAL SPECIMENS AND ITS APPLICATION TO LABORATORY TESTS OF R/C JOINTS WITHOUT CONCRETE CONFINEMENT

Abstract

An experimental technique using short beam-exterior column joint specimens was proposed to overcome a size limitation of the experimental equipment. Realistic moment distributions were simulated by applying additional moments to the ends of short beams. As a result of the verification test with a steel specimen, it was confirmed that curvature and axial strain distributions were consistent with theoretical estimations. Application tests of the proposed experimental system were conducted using two 3/4 scale R/C beam-column joint specimens representing an earthquake-damaged joint in developing countries. Seismic behavior of the joints was observed and represented by an asymmetric rocking model.